Working in an office typically involves spending a great deal of time sitting in an office chair —a position that adds stress to the structures in the spine. Therefore, to avoid developing or
compounding back problems, it's important to have an office chair that's ergonomic and that supports the lower back and promotes good posture.

There are many types of ergonomic chairs available for use in the office. No one type of office chair is necessarily the best, but there are some things that are very important to look for in a
good ergonomic office chair. These things will allow the individual user to make the chair work well for his or her specific needs.

This article will examine the traditional office chair, as well as alternatives that can be used as an office chair that may be preferable for some people with back problems.

What Features Should a Good Ergonomic Office Chair Possess?

In first considering the "conventional" style of office chair, there are a number of things an ergonomic chair should have, including:

Seat height. Office chair seat height should be easily adjustable. A pneumatic adjustment lever is the easiest way to do this. A seat height that ranges from about 16 to 21
inches off the floor should work for most people. This allows the user to have his or her feet flat on the floor, with thighs horizontal and arms even with the height of the desk.

Seat width and depth. The seat should have enough width and depth to support any user comfortably. Usually 17-20 inches wide is the standard. The depth (from front to back of
the seat) needs to be enough so that the user can sit with his or her back against the backrest of the ergonomic office chair while leaving approximately 2 to 4 inches between the back of the
knees and the seat of the chair. The forward or backward tilt of the seat should be adjustable.

Lumbar support. Lower back support in an ergonomic chair is very important. The lumbar spine has an inward curve, and sitting for long periods without support for this curve
tends to lead to slouching (which flattens the natural curve) and strains the structures in the lower spine. An ergonomic chair should have a lumbar adjustment (both height and depth) so each
user can get the proper fit to support the inward curve of the lower back.

Backrest. The backrest of an ergonomic office chair should be 12 to 19 inches wide. If the backrest is separate from the seat, it should be adjustable in height and angle. It
should be able to support the natural curve of the spine, again with special attention paid to proper support of the lumbar region. If the office chair has the seat and backrest together as
one piece, the backrest should be adjustable in forward and back angles, with a locking mechanism to secure it from going too far backward once the user has determined the appropriate angle.

Seat material. The material on the office chair seat and back should have enough padding to be comfortable to sit on for extended periods of time. Having a cloth fabric that
breathes is preferable to a harder surface.